18 months ago I had a spigelian hernia repair. Everything seemed to go well until the following April when I was in a lot of pain around the site of the op. I subsequently found that I had 2 more hernias, a femoral hernia and an inguinal hernia. Both were repaired at the same time last August. It transpired that the mesh had come away from my 1st repair and wrapped itself round my inguinal hernia but this wasn't discovered until the actual repair was carried out.
Now I have similar pain and another hernia. My GP says that it is an incisional hernia and it is at the end of the scar from the last repair! I'm scared that the pain will become as bad as it was last year and worried for my job as I always seem to be off recovering from surgery.
How am I getting so many hernias? My consultant implies that it is because I smoke but surely that can't be the only cause!!!
No ideas, sorry. Wish I did. Just speaking up in the hopes that you'll keep us informed if you get any ideas,
learn anything.
There seems to be precious little information out there.
Surgeons just seem to put it all down to hereditary factors, or age, which really is telling us nothing.
We need to know what changes have taken place in the tissues that cause them to be weaker in that area. Knowing this could possibly lead to a remedy, some way to toughen the tissues.
I've been unable to find any research in this direction at all. Cause and cure seem to be totally disregarded. Just cut and stitch up.
I've got a double inguinal hernia and I'm trying to find the best option and am learning more and more about the whole medical world in my search and what I learn isn't very encouraging.
I'd say look around and talk around, understand your own case as well as you can.
Thanks, Abrogard. I've searched for info too but found very little. Being overweight is supposed to be an issue but I am not overweight. Also lifting heavy objects but I have been so careful since my last repair. I work on public transport and this involves walking around when it is moving. I'm wondering whether the sudden jerks could play a part. I know the surgeon put my spigelian hernia down to a congential weakness but the rest are a mystery.
Mine were fixed with mesh but, as you can see by my first post, this caused it's own problems. I hope you find a suitable repair solution to your hernias.
Hi all. I'm not sure if this is the right place for my query, or how this forum works. I only seem to find it by clicking emails.
I have an incisional hernia, following bowel cancer surgery. About 4 1/2 moths ago. It seems to be getting bigger but Dr. just said to 'keep an eye on it.' As I am a worrier, especially after the cancer scare, I have arranged to see a specialist rather than wait 5 months to see one in the public health system. Does anyone have any information about this type of hernia - is strangulation possible or less likely with this type, should I have some sort of support, etc etc.
John I think you'll find out as much as anyone else knows if you google it for yourself. There's
plenty information in my experience (googling) on the anatomical details of any hernia at all and also information can be found, though not so plentiful, on methods that are and were used to deal with different hernias and sometimes you can even find a youtube video that shows a procedure actually being performed.
Such a video - on Desarda's inguinal hernia repair - is what largely inclined me towards that technique.
But you'll find no information on other ways of dealing with the hernia. No details on how to cure it. Few if any suggestions on how to live with it, manage it.
No information beyond 'hereditary' on what caused it - suggestions, the old belief, that they are caused by bad lifting, straining, are largely discounted nowadays, I believe, with all the emphasis now placed on 'weakness' of the 'abdominal wall' or 'muscles'.
If you DO find any information where I've suggested there's none to be found then PLEASE post it here or email me.
There's so much about this whole thing that is mysterious. Note 'abdominal contents pushing through the abdominal wall'. Just how strong are those abdominal contents? The intestines are not exactly spears, are they? What gives them the ability to 'push through' ?
Coughing and muscle straining can be seen to compress the lower abdomen to some extent but this compression then is shared across the whole of the contents, a rubbery, wet, smeary mass. What causes one part to 'push through' ?
And, despite what I've said, which seems right, when I feel my hernia sometimes it feels quite hard and solid. Why would that portion of my intestine be so hard and solid? And so on...
I think this whole thing is on a par with the gastric ulcer thing, you know? Believed to be one thing for decades and decades and then those Australian doctors proved it to be a completely different thing: an infection.
It's my opinion this could eventually be 'solved' by some such sudden illumination from a totally unexpected direction. And I can't wait.
For a while there I was chasing this 'collagen' thing. Because the external oblique muscle aponeurosis is the tissue that is 'weak' and that an inguinal hernia 'pushes through' - and it is largely collagen.
Ah, great, I thought. A tissue weak in collagen. Let's see if we can strengthen the collagen somehow, like diet and exercise.
But then what? I discovered 90 of the body is collagen or somesuch percentage. It is the most common tissue in the body.
So if your body has a hereditary 'weakness' of that tissue surely it'd manifest throughout the body?
Not in one tiny area.
Anyway... the search goes on...
If you 'follow this discussion' you'll get emails about posts. Is that what you mean? You get them and can't find it otherwise? I'd suggest cut and paste the URL of this page or bookmark it in that case.
Wow how are you doing now? I am 9 days post op from a Spigelian hernia withmesh repair. Still having some pain. I can't believe how many hernias you have suffered since
I've just seen your post. How are you now? I wasn't in a great deal of pain following my surgery but there was always some pain there right up until the 2nd surgery. It eased after that but returned. And now it's back with a vengeance after I lost my balance on a metro train yesterday and had to grab onto a rail!
My initial appointment to see a surgeon isn't until 17th July. So much for the 18 week NHS guidelines for treatment! I'm not a happy bunny at all. I think I'll go back to see my GP but I waited 6 months for surgery last time so I'm not holding my breath.
I have been searching the internet for several months with the hope of finding someone with same or similar condition as I am experiencing and glad I came across your post.
I had emergency surgery to repair Spigelian Hernia in July 2011, my Doctor informed me that they are very rare and surgery went well..In Early 2013 I started to experience pain again in surgical area including feeling the bulge on my lower left abdomen. I visited my Surgeon and he was 'not convinced the surgery was a source of my pain" a visit to ER days later thru a CT scanned confirmed hernia returned.
In Oct 2013 I had 2nd surgery and it was discovered that the mesh from first surgery dettached from surgical site and affixed itself to my colon which he was unable to remove due to scar tissue. A second hernia was discovered in my umbilical area and also repaired. A new mesh was placed and secured with many dissolvable sutures. Recovery was very painful and during my second follow up visit 2 months following surgery date I advised my surgeon that I felt like I was getting worse rather than better and began to feel the bulge again. Another CT scan performed and transpired that mesh tore and surgery would be necessary to repair.
In June 2014 I had 3rd surgery, my surgeon discovered that mesh from 2nd surgery lifted and placed another mesh over it and secured it with 100 metal staples in addition to also securing it with 2 screws in my left hip bone to avoid the mesh from dettaching again from the surgical site. He also advised that the mesh from first surgery in July2011 is cemented on my colon and still unable to remove, he further explained that the only way to remove it would be to cut the part of my colon out that the mesh is affixed to and reattach my colon. That an entire separate major surgery.
3 weeks into my recovery and since I awoke, have had a burning sensation on my left thigh and numbness, probably from screws placed in hip, waiting for xray and visit with another Doctor to confirm sensory nerve damage.
To summarize 3 hernia surgeries, since first surgery I do not engage in heavy lifting, I am overweight, but who isn't and can not understand how these keep returning. To make matters worse, when I informed my employer that I was taking a CT Scan after 2nd surgery, he asked if I was going to be out of work again, replying that I had no idea, later that day there was a Company wide lay off and my position was eliminated, beyond shocking for me and many of my coworkers.
Are you feeling better these days and have you given any consideration that the mesh used in your intial surgery is subject to product defect?
I'm so relieved to find that I'm not the only one to be having these problems! Even so, your experience sounds horrendous!!
I haven't even managed to get an intial consultation with my surgeon yet> It was supposed to be tomorrow, then it was put off until the end of July and finally putoff again until Sept! I phoned them to complain and got it brought forward to 14th August but I'm not holding my breath for surgery.
As part of my job I interview people using public transport and have found that I can't work on buses and metros themselves anymore. When I do I get really severe pain around my hernia. I've researched this and I think I'm getting an obstruction as my stomach goes hard as well, plus I pass a lot of wind when it all dies down I get stabbing burning pains around the hernia and the pain goes into my back and leg. My boss promised that I could just work in stations instead of moving vehicles but now 2 colleagues have gone on the sick and my work for the next 2 weeks is on the metro! I had to finish work 2 hours early today as I couldn't handle the pain.
My GP has now prescribed Tramadol but I don't want to take it all the time. I took one at work today but it didn't kick in for about an hour and a half by which time I'd gone home. This is the 1st tramadol I've ever had and it made me feel very odd so I doubt I'd have been any good at work anyway so all in all things aren't good.
Your idea about the mesh is interesting. I felt that during my post op visit by the surgeon after my last hernia repair that he seemed a bit embarrassed and wanted to get away. It's certainly something to bring up when I see him in August. Do you have any evidence that the mesh used in your initil repair was defective? It's also interesting that your surgeon wasn't convinced that a hernia was the source of your pain when you developed your 2nd hernia. My surgeon was going to send me to a pain management clinic until I asked for a 2nd opinion. The 2nd surgeon virtually laughed at the 1st one and said that it was clear as day that I had another hernia. However, I felt that neither of them believed the amount of pain it caused me.
I hope you are ok. Please keep me informed about any further developments. I thought that hernia surgery was straightforward but your case is absolutely terrible. Have you contacted PALS at your hospital to see if you can get a more detailed explanation of why all of this has happened?
Agreed, it is very nice to converse with someone that understands what I am dealing with, perhaps thru this forum we can come together and share our experiences in hopes finding relief from our experience. The symptoms you describe are what I experienced in Early 2013, you are the best advocate for your body and must stay on your doctor until you are provided with a proper medical diagnosis and treatment plan. Due to the stabbing pains and hardening around your surgical area the hernia probably returned and hopefully you are not in any danger of strangulation, perhaps an emergency visit to you ER would be most beneficial for you as they are usually more thorough than a regular practioner. Prior to the first surgery I had pains for months and after several visits to a doctor, ultrasound and further testing was scheduled, unfortunately during the weekend I felt worse and went to the ER and was informed that the emergency surgery was necessary due to the intestines becoming strangulated. This can be life threatning, please seek immediate attention. I have read quite a bit online about Spigilian hernia and learned they are quite rare and not easily diagnosed due to their location in fact 50% of the time, a proper diagnosis is missed. My first surgeon dismissed my complaints of pain, I switched surgeons and it was the best thing I did...he performed the last two surgeries and follows up with me within 24 hrs if I email him with any concerns although it does not dismiss my feeling that the recurrent hernia surgeries and mesh issues are all a result of the first problematic surgery. I spoke with him today about my leg pain and numbness and referred me another doctor about an injection into the nerve.
I recall the times when my pain was so bad at work I could barely wait to get home lay down and just cup my side with the palm of my hand..I hope your pain eases and with keep you informed and hope you do the same.
While I recover, I am looking further into the matter of the mesh and if there are any claims of product defect, which I strongly feel may be the case.
When you visit your Doctor, inquire on the manufacturer and type of mesh used for your surgery. That will be a start for you to research and determine if a product defect claim against the manufacturer is viable in your situation as well. What month and year was your surgery performed?
My GP has diagnosed a hernia. It's the hospital that is dragging it's feet. Your 2nd surgeon sounds brilliant. I wish I'd elected to go to a different hospital but if I did it now,I'd go straight to the back ot the waiting list again. The colleague I was working with yesterday told me to go to a walk in centre and it has crossed my mind that ER could be an option but it scares me. I'm back working on the metro on Saturday so I might do it then if that excruciating pain returns. I honestly could cry with it. It seems to come in waves.
My 1st surgery was at the beginning of September in 2012 and my recovery from that was quick. After the 2nd surgery I had a lot of pain and the surgery site was extremely swollen and angry looking.
I will ask about the mesh type if I don't go to ER first. I also thought it odd that I didn't get a follow up appointment after my 2nd surgery. Perhaps they were afraid of me asking questions?
I eventually got my scan last week and was told that I keep getting hernias because I smoke. The consultant says that smoking prevents proper healing and damages collagen thus affecting the abdominal wall.
I'm not sure whether i believe this as absolutely everything is blamed on smoking these days
having had 20 abdominal and groin hernias repaired and belive that I have a few more, all have been repaired with mesh but keep getting more I believe that the mesh brakes down after time? not sure but when I had a implant changed the doctors said they found no mesh.
I think all these reoccurances are because of being overweight. I had my gallbladder removed back in 2011. Since then i have had 3 incisional repairs and it has ripped open again. i have not lifted anything heavy and can't even excersise because it will make the pain worse. I am in mild pain every day and at least 1 time/week my pain will get so bad i breakdown crying. the pain is in my incisional site and radiates to my back and is really painful. I was wondering what these doctors were doing wrong because it keeps coming back and i just want it to all go away. i was reading online last night and a lot of what i was reading kept bringing me back to being overweight and the pressure of the belly pulling down on the hernia and it ripping open again. I also read where people that get a tummy tuck, forgot the scientific name but that they get it done and then the hernia fixed and the problem is solved. I don't know how much this is true but if it is i am calling my insurance on Monday to see if it will cover it. I just want the pain to go away, the hernia to heal. It has been almost 5 years now and i just can't believe that this is still happening. if i know i am going to be in the store a long time i have to ride around in a cart. i can't be on my feet for a long time. eating makes it worse too. If you find out anything new please let me know. i hope you feel better soon.
Hi Mchelle. It's horrible isn't it. Mine is so unpredictable. I just don't know when the bad pain will come. I've been told not to do anything heavy but still do and I know that heavy work has nothing to do with my hernia pain erupting. Sometimes it happens when I'm just sitting doing nothing.
I'm not overweight but I've read that this can be a contributing factor to hernias. If the hospital ever gets round to putting this camera in and it shows anything interesting, I'll let you know.
i had that done before they found out that it was a hernia. i told them but they would not listen to me. treated me like i was crazy and making it up. i had all blood work possible, all urine work possible, inside and outside ultrasound, MRI with the die and NO ONE would do anything. this is a year after having my gallbladder out. then i go to Wisconsin and lift up my shirt to show the doctor and he says oh yeah, you have an incisional hernia and told me to put my shirt down. Do you know how p*ssed off but happy i was. I had been going through tons of tests in Mobile, AL and the dang doctors would not do a thing. then had 3 repairs in the next 3 years; 1 a year. doctors can ask for money and if i don't have it refuse to do surgery but i am not fixed still. so p*ssed behind all of this. the last surgery a couple months ago, about 2 weeks post op the pains started back again, sote pertruding out and he says oh that is just water and it will go down. well, no it hasn't and won't. He finally understood that about 5 weeks post op. then he thought maybe the doc that did my gallbladder surgery left some gallstones in my duct. did bloodwork on me for my pancreas and that came back good. this coming wednesday i am having a hide a scan. the camera down my throat and something else the other directtion. I sure in a way hope they find something because i don't know how much more i can take this. this whole ordeal has ruined my life. i can exercise if i am not hurting but after about 10 minutes you can hang it up. if i would persue the pains most likely would kick in to full blown pains and that i can't stand. I am beginning to think all of these docs in mobile are quacks! i mean how can something like this happen and why can't they fix it?
i was asking questions about the gallbladder doc that just happened to stop working at the clinic a year later after the surgery why he left and that i found it to be quite odd that he no longer worked there. my 3rd repair doc told me oh he missed his family and decided to go to be regular doc. that is BS. A surgeon does not go from making that kind of money to takeing a pay cut like that. Mindless to say i have a lawyer. i don't know if i will win it but i am trying. almost 5 years of pain and no fix = 1 p*ssed off patient and husband told me to sue their dang butts. see what happens with that.
i just hate having to sit in the truck almost every time my hubby goes to the store or just stay home because i know i can't handle walking around for too long.
i have had 3 hernias 2 from a nut doctor and 1 oct from a decent 1.but it didnt take even when he put a mesh in.it is on left side were i had kidney cancer surgery over a yr ago.im scared becasue no dr knows how to put my intestines inhe said he cant put it in theres no place to hook the mesh i feel like none of them no that this is a lumber hernia and they wont mess with it
please reply im in agany i have a terrible UTI infection and all the time
i cant belive this i have been going threw same thing 3 hernias and its back and they said they might not be able to put the mesh in so i will die have you heard of sucha thing.but the third dr did put mesh in its coming out hernia hurts i cant poop good over a yr ago i had kidney cancer had surgery there thats what started it no attorney will take me im so upset
